The Ontario government has capped the 2018 Annual Rent Increase Guideline at 1.8%. The increase of 1.8% for 2018 is the maximum a landlord can raise a tenant’s rent without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board. Landlords cannot increase rent for sitting tenants above the 1.8% guideline without seeking approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board. More information is available at this Ontario Government link:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2017/06/ontario-capping-rent-increases-for-tenants-in-2018.html
This 2018 guideline increase of 1.8% is higher than the 1.5% rent increase for 2017. It is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation calculated monthly by Statistics Canada.
The 2018 guideline increase takes effect from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
If the landlord intends to implement an Above Guideline Increase the landlord is required to abide by the regulations of the Landlord and Tenant Board and file an application with Landlord and Tenant Board for an Above Guideline Increase. Refer to the Brochure: 2018 Rent Increase Guideline published by the Landlord and Tenant Board (Social Justice Tribunal) for more details:
http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/documents/ltb/Brochures/2018%20Rent%20Increase%20Guideline%20(EN).html
NOTE: The guideline is not applicable to: Vacant residential units, Social housing units, Nursing homes or Commercial property
East York Tenants Group 